title: How do university education and clinical experience influence pre-registration nursing students' infection control practice? A descriptive, cross sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to explore nursing students' knowledge of infection control and investigate how university education and clinical experience influence their infection control practice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In order to prevent and control healthcare associated infections all healthcare staff must be knowledgeable about infection control. However, knowledge and practice of infection control are often sub-optimal. Education has had variable results in improving the infection control knowledge of healthcare professionals yet, there have been few studies examining this issue in relation to pre-registration nursing students in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional survey employed a questionnaire composed of predominantly closed questions for data collection. A non-probability, purposive sample of 354/444 (79.7%) nursing students from one university participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge was generally adequate in questions related to pathogen transmission, hand hygiene principles, glove use, immediate action following sharps' injuries, and risk reduction in relation to sharps and waste management. Topics that received less positive results related to the chain of infection, the use of alcohol gel and Clostridium difficile and the definition of inoculation injury. University education was the main influence on knowledge and practice (340/353, 96.3%), but mentors (322/354, 91.2%), nurses (316/353, 89.3%), doctors (175/353, 49.4%) and other members of the multi-disciplinary team (213/352, 60.2%) were also deemed influential. Workload, time, and availability of facilities and equipment also contributed to the adoption of infection control precautions. The findings illustrated the importance of both theoretical and practical knowledge, supported by competent role models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study identified the complexities of knowledge acquisition and application in a practice based discipline. The support of a competent role model to assist in applying theory to practice is vital. The study has identified that there are many variables that affect IPC practice, both positively and negatively.
authors.affiliation: College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, St David's Park, Carmarthen SA31 3HB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.hinkin@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinkin
authors.affiliation: College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.cutter@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cutter
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Clinical practice; Education; Infection prevention and control; Knowledge; Nursing students; Survey